Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – March 7, 2025 – The Arkansas Department of Education and the Arkansas Council for Military Children recently designated Westside Consolidated School District as a Purple Star School District. The designation is given to schools and districts that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families.

There are two separate designations through this program, one for schools and one for districts. In order to qualify, each must complete a list of requirements prior to submitting an application. The requirements for a district to become a Purple Star School District include:

  1. All schools within the district must have achieved Purple Star School status.
  2. The district school board passes a resolution of the school or district’s support for military-connected students and families.
  3. The school must designate a District Military Education Coordinator (DMEC) to serve as a point of contact for military-connected students and families. The DMEC serves as the primary liaison between them and the school. The DMEC could be a counselor, administrator, teacher or another staff member.
  4. The DMEC completes training on special considerations for military-connected students and families.
  5. The district appoints a military service member, the spouse of a military service member, or a representative of the military community to serve on its district family engagement committee.
  6. The district addresses military family issues in its district family and community engagement plan.

After completing the requirements, application can be made online to the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education website. The designation gives the school or district the ability to use the Purple Star School graphics as well as recognition on the division’s website.

Westside is the first district in the Northeast Arkansas Education Co-op to receive the designation. The Purple Star School District designation is operated by the Arkansas Council for Military Children in cooperation with the Arkansas Department of Education.